Chicago Bulls: Re-grading 2019 free agent signings at midway point
2. Thaddeus Young, Forward
The play of veteran former Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young so far this season is starting to put some rust on what looked to be the best free agent signing the Chicago Bulls made last summer. The lack of production from Young so far this season can’t entirely be blame that is placed on his shoulders, though.
Young is visibly unhappy with his role, and is the most misused player by Boylen so far this season. He’s averaging 8.9 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, while shooting 40.6 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from three-point range. Young started out the season hot from beyond the arc, but his efficiency is dropping down within the last dozen games.
The proof shows that Young is being used incorrectly this season by Boylen in the fact that he’s playing the least amount of minutes per game since his rookie campaign while taking the second most-three point attempts of any season in his lengthy NBA career. He needs to work on the inside first to use his length, athleticism, and post-up skills to get his groove going from beyond the arc.
Young is not generally a lights out corner three-point shooter, but Boylen apparently thinks he can turn into one more than 10 years into his NBA career. If Young has the open looks, then he needs to get his shots from three-point territory. But the Bulls are just forcing it out of him too much this season.
There’s a good chance that Young might be on a different team come the 2020 trade deadline.